Metal shelf construction



G. R. KIMBALL ETAL METAL SHELF CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Feb. 20, 1959NIMH( "unrnunwwf Win United States Patent O 3,105,595 METAL SHELFCNS'IRUCTION George R. Kimball, Cedar Falls, iowa, and Nicholas L.Etten, deceased, late of Cedar Falls, Iowa, by Eileen Etten, execntrix,Cedar Falls, Iowa, assgiors to Chamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa,a corporation of Iowa @riginal application Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No.794,624, now Patent No. 3,037,267, dated June 5, 1962. Divided and thisapplication Jan. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 169,972

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-153) This invention relates to improvements in shelfstructures and more particularly relates toan improved shelf structureparticularly adapted for refrigerators `and lthe like and is `a divisionof application Serial Number 794,- 624, filed February 20, 1959, nowU.S. Patent 3,037,267 granted June 5, 1962.

Heretofore refrigerator shelf structures have consisted in spacedlongitudinal bars and round :cross-wires connecting the bars together byriveting or by threading the ends of the wires to the longitudinal barsand by heading the ends of the wires to the end bars and by crimping theWires to the intermediate bar. The riveted ends of the wires have beenconcealed by an ornamental bounding frame extending about the shelfstructure or -by ornamental frame structures enclosing the ends andsides fof the frame.

With such she-lf structures, the riveting or threading operations areobjectionable, due to the difficulty in riveting and threading the wiresto the end Ibars, resulting in an expensive operation vand making itnecessary to conceal the riveted or threaded ends of the wires by anornarnental frame of one form or another.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel 'andimproved form of shelf structure arranged with `a View toward utmostsimplicity in construction and ease in assembly.

A lfurther object of the invention is to provide ya fabricated shelfstructure that is extremely simple and economical in construction andhighly functional and decorative in use and has a smooth uninterruptedsupport structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide la simple and moreeconomical shelf structure for refrigerators `and the like eliminatingthe necessity of riveting the `crosswires to the end and intermediatebars of the shelf and concealing the ends :of the cross-wires by theintegrally fot-.fined end bars of the shelf structure.

A still further object of the yinvention resides in the provision of vadecorative fabricated shelf structure suitable for use in refrigeratorsand the like, wherein three parallel spaced longitudinally extendingbars, channel-like in cross-section, are slotted to receive round wiresand wherein the round Wires are recessed within the slotted portions ofthe channel-like longitudinal bars and secured thereto by simple stakingoperations.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to timelas the following specification proceeds and with reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary plan view of :a refrigerator shelf structureconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through a metal stripforming one of the end bars of the shelf structure, prior to forming `ofthe bar in a ichannel-like form, and illustrating a wire receiving slotformed therein prior to forming of the bar to its channel-like form;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a metal strip forming the centerbar of the shelf structure, and illustrating the configuration `of Itheslots formed therein;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a formed intermediate bar of the shelfstructure;

FIGUREV 5 is a fragmentary generally diagrammatic View illustrating thesteps of assembling the shelf structure;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along lineVII-VI of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is la fragmentary sectional View taken substantially falongline VII-VII of FIGURE 1; `and FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary end view,illustrating one end of the refrigerator shel-f structure and thestaking of a cross-wire to an end bar of the structure.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, there isshown in FIGURE l1 a refrigerator shelf structure includinglongitudinally extending parallel spaced side bars 10, 10, anintermediate or center bar 11, land round rods or wires 12 connectingthe fbars 10, 10 and 11 together in accordance with the principles fofthe invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 fand 3, the longitudinally extending sidebars 10, 10 are each formed from a at plate or strip of metal, `such assteel, aluminum or any other suitable metal, and yare slotted while instrip form by a punching or like operation, Iproviding 4a plurality ofparallel spaced slots 13 in the flat metal strip lor plate, havingrounded ends 15 conforming -to substantially onehalf of thecircumference of the rounded cross-wires 12.

rllhe strip when slotted is then bent into a channel-like form having aweb 16 fand parallel spaced legs lor flanges 17 and 19 extendingtherefrom, with the rounded end portions 15 of the slots `13 in saidlegs and forming generally semi-circular recesses to receive fthecross-wires or rods 12.

During the operation of forming or bending the side bar 10, the leg 19is bent outwardly intermediate lthe ends thereof and is then bentbackwardly parallel to fthe leg 19, to provide a shielding portion 20extending parallel to the leg portion 19, yand spaced outwardlyltherefrom. The end portion of the shielding portion 20 is then bentoutwardly as indicated by reference character 21 to provide `a lipextending for the length of the side |bar, which may readily be grippedby the fingers. 'Ihe lip portion 21 may be bent to any desiredconfiguration fno form a gripping surface for fthe hands or lingers andto entrance the decorative features of the shelf.

The center or intermediate bar 1'1 may be formed from a liat metal`strip or plate like the end bars 10, and is shown in FIGURE 4 as havinga web 23 having parallel spaced legs or flanges 24 having slots 25formed in the web of the bar, and having :generally semi-circular endportions 26 forming downward oontinuations Iof the slots 25 andreceiving substantially half of the wires for rods 12.

In assembling the shelf structure `after fthe slotting and forming ofthe end bar-S10 and the center bar 111, the rods or wires 12 may firstbe located on a platen or mandrel 27 in parallel relation with respectto each other. The end bars or rails 10, land the intermediate bar 11may then be inverted and the yslots 13 and 25 located on the Wires 12and pressed thereon, with the inner sides of fthe shielding portions 20in abutting engagement with the ends of the wires. A die or a series ofdies (not shown) may then be moved downwardly into engagement with thewires 12, to stake the Wires outwardly between the flanges of the siderails 10 and center rail 11, land form laterally projecting stakedportions 29 on the cross-wires, engaging the underside of the webs ofthe channels of the side bars 11, 11 and 'the intermediate bar 10.

These staking operations complete the assembly off the shelf structure,providing a simple and eflicient shelf structure sufficiently stiff foruse in household refrigerators and produced with fewer parts and in -afar simpler manner than refrigerator shelves have heretofore beenproduced.

It will be understood that modifications `and variations 3 of theinvention may he effected without departing from the spirit :and scopeof the novel yconcepts thereof.

What fis claimed is:

1. A shelf structure for refrigerators and the like comprising v (a) aplurality of parallel spaced side and intermediate Ihars, channel-likein cross-section, each having la web and flanges extending from oppositelsides thereof,

('b) a plurality of `parallel slots extending transversely across thewebs of said bars and into the llanges extending fom said webs,

(c) la plurality `of cross-wires recessed within the slotted pontions ofsaid bars,

(d) integrally formed projections extending laterally from saidcross-wires engageable with the undersides of the webs of said side barsand retaining said side bars in parallel relation with respect to eachother (e) opposite side bars having integrally formed shielding portionsbent outwardly and upwardly to extend over the ends of said cross-wires,and having gripping ange-s extending laterally ltherefrom.

2. A shelf structure for refrigerators and the like comprising (a) aplurality of parallel spaced side and intermediate bars, channel-like incross-section, each having a web and flanges extending from oppositesides thereof,

(b) ia plurality of round cross wires forming the supporting structureof the shelf,

(c) a plurality of equally spaced parallel slots extending transverselyacross said Webs and downwardly into said ilanges,

(d) said slots having rounded bottoms conforming to said -cnoss Wires,for receiving said cross wires,

(e) oppositeside `:bars having integrally formed shielding portions bentoutwardly and upwardly to extend over the ends of said cross-wires, andhaving :gripping flanges extending laterally therefrom.

References Cited in the lfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,014,684 Weygand Ian. 16, 1912 1,620,846 Wells Mar. 15, 1927 1,951,653Green Mar. 20, 1934 1,961,852 Green June 5, 1934 2,634,867 Shields Apr.14, 1953 3,037,267 Kimball lune 5, 1962 man "Ibai

2. A SHELF STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATORS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING (A) A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SPACED SIDE AND INTERMEDIATE BARS, CHANNEL-LIKE IN CROSS-SECTION, EACH HAVING A WEB AND FLANGES EXTENDING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, (B) A PLURALITY OF ROUND CROSS WIRES FORMING THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE OF THE SHELF, (C) A PLURALITY OF EQUALLY SPACED PARALLEL SLOTS EXTEND- 